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Dear Annie: I’m 58, never married, no kids, no siblings, no nieces or nephews. A neighbor of mine is very ill and in a nursing home. She has a daughter, but the daughter barely even bothers to visit her, and it breaks my heart. I call my neighbor often to try to lift her spirits.
At the same time, I’ve been dealing with some depression myself. I keep thinking about how I will be 70 one day -- and who will be there to visit me? I have health problems, but I stay on top of my appointments. I’m terrified I’ll end up like my neighbor, alone in a home with no one around to show up. Do you have any advice? -- Hoping for Better Days
Dear Hoping for Better Days: Not marrying and having no siblings doesn’t condemn you to a life alone. You’re already proving that you’re a devoted friend by calling your neighbor and lifting her spirits. Keep nourishing your friendships.
Where you can, start planning for the practical side of getting older. Look into long-term care insurance while you’re still healthy enough to qualify, and get your finances in order so paying for help later isn’t a scramble. Some towns also have “villages” -- member-based networks of older adults who check in on each other.
The depression deserves its own attention, separate from all of this. A primary care doctor can screen you and, if needed, refer you to a therapist or start you on medication. Between the friendships you’re building and the care you give your health, you’re doing more for your future than you realize.
Dear Annie: My best friend’s birthday is coming up and I want to do something nice for her. In the past, I’ve done small gestures that I thought were meaningful -- a signed copy of her favorite book, a photo album of our trips together, her favorite cupcakes delivered to her office. But her gifts always put mine to shame. For my birthday earlier this year, she treated us both to a weekend getaway together. The year before, she brought all of my girlfriends to a spa for massages. I want to do the same for her, but it’s just out of my price range. How do I make her feel special on her birthday without blowing up my budget? -- Priced Out of Friendship
Dear Priced Out: You’re blessed with a generous friend, but generosity isn’t a competition, and she’s not keeping score. A signed book and a photo album are the kind of gifts people keep for decades. Round up the girlfriends she treated and do something budget-friendly together -- a home-cooked dinner, a game night, a day trip nearby. Gifts are meaningful when they show you’re paying attention, not when they come with a receipt to match.
“Out of Bounds: Estrangement, Boundaries and the Search for Forgiveness” is out now! Annie Lane’s third anthology is for anyone who has lived with anger, estrangement or the deep ache of being wronged -- because forgiveness isn’t for them. It’s for you. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Follow Annie Lane on Instagram at @dearannieofficial. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM